looking to buy a laptop need help with specs

[architectstudent]

i'm an architecture student (as name implies xD) looking to buy a new laptop.

i'm wanting to move from a pc that recently busted to a laptop because of the portability mainly, and they seem to have gotten alot more powerful of late.

i've got to run programs such as "3ds max", "photoshop", and "Autocad". I'm wondering what specs ill need in order to run these types of programs smoothly.

i understand that i probably need 4 gig or more ram, but i'm not really sure about anything else. How do i know if i'll be getting a gfx card thats good enough etc etc? some of the graphics cards say 1gig memory or something too, what does this mean and is that enough?

also theres all these computers with 'dual core' and 'turbo core' and 'intel core', its confusing and i'm hoping someone will be able to tell me which one i want.

these are some of the options i've been looking at:

http://www.jbhifi.com.au/computers/samsung/15-inch-notebook-sku-73523/

http://www.jbhifi.com.au/computers/toshiba/satellite-15-inch-notebook-sku-73707/

http://www.netplus.com.au/product/N...430M_4Gb_750G_15.6WXGA_DVDRW_ATI_HD6370M_W7HP

http://www.harveynorman.com.au/toshiba-satellite-c665-040-laptop.html

http://www.harveynorman.com.au/acer-aspire-timelinex-as5830tg-2434g75mibb-laptop.html


obviously the cheaper the better.. as long as i can get it to do what i want it to do and it'll last a few years.

anyway any advice on my dilema is well appreciated!

 

[wolfeking]

If you are planning on using AutoCAD fairly regularly and need the laptop to last a while, I would go for one with a Nvidia Quadro or AMD Firepro graphics card. These cards are built and programmed for CAD and stability.

Also, you will need the most memory that you can get in it. Photoshop eats memory, and I know the 32 Bit autoCAD2007 runs 3.5GB of RAM almost constantly. The 64 Bit probably even more so.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834246104 seems to be the cheapest stateside.
http://www.techbuy.com.au/p/166189/NOTEBOOKS_14.1/Lenovo/417853M.asp looks to be a comparable version in Australia.

 

[voyagerfan99]

The Lenovo is a decent runner. Another option to look at would be a Dell Precision mobile workstation.

 

[wolfeking]

True. The only reason I showed the Lenovo is because it was what showed up with a Quadro GPU at newegg.

Good Options: Thinkpad W and T series. HP Probook and Elitebook, and Dell Vostro, Latitude, and precision.

 

[DMGrier]

I know nothin gabout autoCad and he did ask for specs, so if he went to Dell tomorrow how much memory will he need, will the core i3 do it or is he going to need a i5 or even a i7?

 

[voyagerfan99]

True. The only reason I showed the Lenovo is because it was what showed up with a Quadro GPU at newegg.

Good Options: Thinkpad W and T series. HP Probook and Elitebook, and Dell Vostro, Latitude, and precision.

Do Vostro's come with a Quadro card option?

 

[wolfeking]

I am unsure. But I know its a business class lappy.

Turns out, no they do not.

 

[architectstudent]

thanks for the replies guys.

wolfeking, the lenovo u posted seems a little expensive for something that has 4gig ram and 350 gb memory space.. whats the thing making you recommend it (and probably pushing the price up haha), is it the processor / graphics card? are all the ones i posted lacking in these areas?

what makes it better than say... http://www.netplus.com.au/product/N...430M_4Gb_750G_15.6WXGA_DVDRW_ATI_HD6370M_W7HP this one?


ive just found another one that looks really good also. it's got;

"Intel Core i7 2.2GHz Processor, 8GB RAM, 750GB Hard Drive, Blu-ray Combo Drive and 2GB Graphics for incredible performance"
( http://www.harveynorman.com.au/asus-k53sv-sx486v-laptop.html )

 

[voyagerfan99]

For something like AutoCAD you want a workstation card because it has more processing power to render what you need.

 

[wolfeking]

thanks for the replies guys.

wolfeking, the lenovo u posted seems a little expensive for something that has 4gig ram and 350 gb memory space.. whats the thing making you recommend it (and probably pushing the price up haha), is it the processor / graphics card? are all the ones i posted lacking in these areas?

what makes it better than say... http://www.netplus.com.au/product/N...430M_4Gb_750G_15.6WXGA_DVDRW_ATI_HD6370M_W7HP this one?

Its the graphics card. The ones that you have been posting have standard consumer graphics cards. They are fine for Games, and for DVDs and the like, but they will drag you down with autoCAD if you use it very often at all (as in like more than once a week or so). The Workstation cards (quadro and firepro) are more expensive, but they are custom engineered to run CAD programs fast. Its worth the money to get the performance of the card. Plus the overall build quality of the laptop is way better than those that you have posted too.

 

[architectstudent]

i've been searching for laptops with nvidia quadro or amd firepro in my local area but haven't been able to find any. infact, in the links you posted I couldn't see where it said firepro or quadro... so i'm not entirely sure what i'm looking for.

im searching local stores websites such as ;

http://www.harveynorman.com.au/

http://www.ht.com.au


also; what do you mean 'overall build quality' ?

 

[wolfeking]

ok, Nvidia has several different versions of the Quadro. The NVS is the lower end version, that is what the T420 I linked form newegg has. Then there is the quadro FX, which is a slightly higher level, and then the strait quadro that is the top of the line.

On the AMD end, I think the firepro is just the same as their consumer levels, where the card model number determines the performance level.

it doesn't appear that there are any available at your local stores.
other good places to look are:
http://configure.ap.dell.com/dellst...&l=en&s=bsd&cs=aubsd1&model_id=latitude-e6520 (NVS solution)
http://configure.ap.dell.com/dellst...l=en&s=bsd&cs=aubsd1&model_id=precision-m4600 (full quadro solution)
http://shopap.lenovo.com/SEUILibrar...000398:&smid=9BB15E3281C5E323B21D6602335DED26 (NVS solution)
http://shopap.lenovo.com/SEUILibrar...0003E6:&smid=6B705CA322AC4DC9BA438330B16F57E7 (full quadro solution)
http://h20386.www2.hp.com/AustraliaStore/Product.aspx?pdetail=P188862& (firepro solution)

Looks like a NVS solution from Dell or Lenovo is the cheapest.

 

[architectstudent]

This is looking really tricky, don't really want to order online and wait 2 weeks.


I'm probably going to go for a new tower for my PC instead, since the monitor and keyboard etc all worksfine. Do I still get a 'workstation card' for them, or are they only for laptops?

 

[wolfeking]

you will still need a workstation card.

 

[architectstudent]

Okay, thanks a lot for the help.


If i get something like...

Nvidia Quadro, 8 gig ram, core i5 or i7... that should be fine for like 3 years right? i'm probably going to get extended warranty too

 

[wolfeking]

you will be better off building yourself. You will get exactly what you need, and for a fraction of the cost of a prebuilt, and you get better quality.

If you've never built before, it is easy. There are 10000 or more guides on the net, and all you really need is a screwdriver, ESD strap, and an ability to read and look at pictures.

We can help you come up with a build list if you tell us what your budget is.

 

[SoMeAm]

Hello, thanks for the HP Probook and Elitebook recommendations.

Architectstudent, you state, "...don't really want to order online and wait 2 weeks." Aren't there online companies in Australia that will ship overnight if the unit isn't custom built? The HP Small and Medium Business Store pre-sales number in Australia is 1300 305 017. The number for "business partners" is shown as 13 22 47.